The 4th Annual Franklin County World Elder Abuse Awareness invitational event was held at the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA) on Friday, June 17, 2016. The event is geared around World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) which was launched on June 15, 2006 by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations. Each year, COAAA acknowledges the day by holding this event which brings local law enforcement, social service professionals, victim advocates and other Franklin County professionals who work with the elderly to raise awareness of elder abuse and to collaborate on how to address and deal with issues of physical abuse, neglect and exploitation of older adults.

The Honorable Patricia Banks, presiding judge over the Cook County (Chicago) Elder Law and Miscellaneous Remedies Division, started the event as the first speaker. Judge Banks has one of the very few Elder Courts in the country. She explained the vision of an Elder Court, how it became to be and the stakeholders who work together to make the court a reality. Judge Banks also focused on the education and community outreach that the Cook County Elder Court provides to the senior population and the role of the different divisions within the court.

The Honorable Judge Dan Hawkins of the Franklin County Environmental Court presented the topic of hoarding among Central Ohio older adults and the steps the court takes in helping seniors remedy their hoarding situation. This is a pilot program within the Franklin County courts and is being looked at as a model for other courts in the nation.

Jack Kullman, director of the Guardianship Service Board talked about the year in review for his organization which is appointed as the guardian of a person for adult residents in Franklin County with a substantial mental impairment or developmental disability who have been declared incompetent by the Franklin County Probate Court. This program is the first of its kind in Ohio and also is a pilot for guardian of last resort for Franklin County.

Beth Lutz and Arin Wade of Southeast, Inc. talked about their organization’s hoarding treatment pilot program and presented a case review regarding a senior safety concern due to hoarding. Judge Patricia Banks provided her assessment on how her court would have handled the case.

Kelly Patton, Chair of the Interdisciplinary Team (Case Review Committee), was the last speaker, discussing the role of the committee and how to refer a case. She provided information on the work of the Case Review Committee. The Case Review Committee discusses cases of older adults who are “at risk” or have been victims of abuse, neglect or exploitation, and provides suggestions for possible solutions on the difficult issues brought to them by the referring professional.

The Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA) is one of the sponsors for Age-Friendly Columbus which is a citywide initiative geared toward ensuring that older adults can live independently in their homes and communities. Fran Ryan, who is a COAAA older adult advocate, serves as the co-chair on the Age Friendly Columbus Advisory Council. COAAA staff serve on many of the issues subcommittees.

The Age-Friendly Columbus initiative will be a two year assessment of the age friendliness of Columbus. Field work, research and outreach will be used to gather data. Information compiled from the study will be used as the basis to develop a plan to make Columbus an age-friendly city.

The assessment will use the principals of an age-friendly city that are outlined by AARP in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO). The criteria used to describe an age-friendly community include accessibility of key services to seniors, better housing and transportation options and safe, walkable streets.

The assessment comes at an important time because the 65 and older population in Central Ohio is expected to double in the next 35 years according to the Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission’s insigth2050 report.

Age-Friendly Columbus is supported and funded by The Osteopathic Heritage Foundation, the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging, the Franklin County Office on Aging, The Columbus Foundation; National Church Residences, and AARP Ohio.

Early spring was definitely an eventful and emotional time period for the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA) as it said goodbye after 23 years to its old location at 174 E. Long Street in downtown Columbus and said hello to its new building on South High Street. COAAA moved to its new location at 3776 S. High St. in Columbus on April 1, 2016. About two months later, COAAA hosted an open house to the public on Thursday, May 26, 2016. The new building is the former corporate headquarters of Bob Evans, which has since moved to its current location in New Albany.

COAAA staff provided guided tours of the first floor. Attendees were treated to food and drinks in the new education room which can hold up to 200 people. The catering was provided by a generous donation from Bob Evans. Cindy Farson, COAAA Director, welcomed and thanked everyone for attending and spoke briefly about the agency and the move to the new building. Columbus City Councilwoman Jaiza Page also welcomed the community at the event.

The new building is about 80,000 square feet which is 30,000 square feet larger than its previous location. COAAA moving to the larger space has given the agency the opportunity to better accommodate the growing number of consumers accessing state and local community based services. The new building is accessible to the bus line, has easy access to I-270 and is only 10 minutes south of downtown Columbus.

It was a fantastic turnout for the “Medicare for Beginners’ workshop hosted by the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA) as more than 141 people attended to learn more about Medicare. The goal of the workshop is to educate individuals about their options so they can make informed decisions regarding their Medicare.